Method of making a collapsible antenna of wire mesh



G. L. TEAGUE METHOD OF MAKING A COLLAPSIBLE ANTENNA OF' WIRE MESI-IFiled Sept. lO, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet l DN f O51. M3 3% R33 HUEBNER 8WOR/PE L G. L. TEAGUE Jan. 19, 1965 METHOD OF MAKING A COLLAPSIBLEANTENNA OF WIRE MESH FiledV Sept. l0. 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet? GRADI L.TEAGUE /NVENmR HUEBNER 8 WORREL .4 TORNEVS United States Patent F3,165,817 METHOD 0F MAKING A COLLAPSIBLE ANTENNA 0F WIRE MESH Grady L.Teague, Rte. 1, Box 726, Porterville, Calif. Filed Sept. 10, 1962, Ser.No. 222,323 3 Claims. (Cl. 29-1555) This invention relates to a highgain directional antenna of the plane-reilector type and moreparticularly to such an antenna which can be economically fabricated andassembled for shipment and which presents minimum shipping dimensions.

The present invention is described as an antenna adapted to receiveelectromagnetic energy of the frequency employed in commercialtelevision broadcasting. Antennas for such a purpose have beenpreviously made in a great variety of forms, many of which are ofconsiderable expense.

Normally, the conventional television antenna comprises a multiplicityof parts which are assembled by bolted connections. Accordingly, a greatdegree of didiculty usually attends their assembly. Also, theirstructural design results in large assembled dimensions which precludestheir being shipped in a pre-assembled condition.

In addition to being difficult to assemble and not conducive to compactpackaging, many previously known antennas are not efficient in receptionof ultra high frequency television signals.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide aneffective antenna of the plane-reflector array type which is readilyfabricated at minimum expense.

Another object of the invention is to provide an eilicient screenreflector array type of antenna which is compact in comparison toconventional antennas of such a type and which presents a shippingcondition of minimum bulk.

Another object is to provide a screen reiiector array type of antennawhich may be shipped in either a preassembled operative condition or ina pre-assembled folded condition thereby minimizing size requirements ofthe shipping container.

A further object is to provide an economical high gain antenna whichprovides optimum signal reception even in the ultra high frequency rangeof commercial television broadcasting.

These, together with other objects, will become more fully apparent uponreference to the following description and accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an antenna of the planereector arraytype embodying the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation showing the antenna of FIG. l in afolded condition ready for shipment.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a pre-cut blank of screen mesh from whichthe signal receiving portions of the antenna are fabricated in one formof the invention.

FlG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the antenna screen to whichantenna elements have been secured, the elements having been formed fromthe blank shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, enlarged view in side elevation of one of thespacing elements incorporated in the assembled antenna.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view in side elevation showing another form ofbridging Wire used in connecting the signal receiving elements of theantenna of FlG. 1.

Referring particularly to FG. 1 of the drawings, a reector, generallyindicated at 1t), is cut at predeter- 3,165,817 Patented Jan. 19, 1965ICC mined longitudinal and lateral dimensions from commerciallyavailable welded wire screen, generally referred to as multi-purposescreen wire. The reliector screen is formed of uniformly spacedlongitudinal and transverse wires 11 and 12 which are interconnected bywelding or soldering at their intersections 13. In a commercialembodiment of the invention employing such a screen and achievingexcellent reception, the screen is cut from such welded wire having thewires 11 and 12 spaced to a form a mesh of one by two inches.

The reflector screen 10 is adapted for mounting in a substantiallyvertical plane normal to the direction of electromagnetic signals to beintercepted thereby and with the transverse wires 12 disposedsubstantially parallel to the surface of the earth. A mast 15 connectedat vertically spaced points to the screen 1() by means of upper andlower clamps 16 and 17 fastened by bolts 18, is Well suited forsupporting the reector in such a vertical plane. The mast may be readilymounted by commercially available, conventional chimney or roof mountingbrackets, not shown, to support the screen in a vertical position at adesired azimuthal direction.

A plurality of dipoles 2li, which constitute signal receiving antennaelements, are supported on the screen in coplanar arrangement by meansof individual spacers 21. Each spacer has an inner end 22 foldablyconnected to the screen and an outer end 23 connected to a respectiveone of the dipoles 20 at the midpoint thereof. Each of the dipoles isprovided with an inner end 24 and an outer end 25. The dipoles arearranged in the aforementioned coplanar manner in transversely opposedpairs 26 wherein the inner ends of the respective dipoles 20 of each ofsuch pairs are spaced at substantially equal lateral separation. Theuniform mesh of the screen 10 alfords a ready guide for such spacing infabricating the antenna as the inner ends 22 of the spacers areconnected to the screen.

The dipoles 20 are also arranged in vertically stacked sets 27 havingthe inner ends 24 of the dipoles of each set interconnected by a phasingwire 2d. It is to be noted that the dipoles of each vertical set arespaced from each other at a distance substantially equal to the spacingbetween adjacent dipoles of adjacent sets. As in the case of theltransverse spacing of the transversely opposed pairs 26, the verticalspacing of the antenna elements of each vertical set 27 and the spacingof adjacent sets can be readily gauged by the uniform mesh of thereilector screen 1?. This uniform spacing is irnperative to insureproper phasing of the signals received by the antenna elements.

' In the preferred form of the invention, each of the spacers 21 isprovided with a mounting base 39 integrally joined to the inner end 22of each respective spacer. The mounting base'includes elongated footportions 31 terminating in anchor hooks 32 which are bendable to theposition shown thereby anchoring the mounting base to the retiectorscreen 10. It is to be noted that certain of the foot portions arearranged normal to the longitudinal wires 11 of the, reflector screen 10while others are arranged substantially normal to the transverse Wires12. Accordingly, the respective anchor hooks of these foot portions areeffective in resisting shifting movement of the mounting bases 30 ineither a longitudinal or transverse direction on the screen and insure amaintenance of the optimum relative positions of the dipoles 20 afterthe antenna has been mounted in a position for use.

Each laterally opposed pair of phasing wires 28 interconnecting thevertically stacked sets of dipoles 27 is supported at its midpoint byrespective spacers 35 projectingV substantially normal from the plane ofthe reflector screen 1d. Each of these spacers 35 comprises an inner end3d and an outer end 37. The inner end includes a mounting base 38provided with suitable foldable anchor hooks 39 respectively engagingthe longitudinal and transverse wires 11 and 12 of the reector screen.The spacers are provided with a pair of laterally opposed eyelets 49 attheir outer ends. The eyelets thereby adapt the spacers to be connectedto a respective one of the phasing wires 2S by means of a spade-typeterminal lug 45 soldered to the midpoint of each phasing wire. A bolt 46provides a suitable detachable connection between the spacers 35 andtheir respective phasing wires 23.

A pair of laterally opposed bridging wires Sil interconnect each set ofvertically spaced phasing wires of two vertically spaced stacked sets ofdipoles 20. Each bridging wire is formed with an eyelet 51 at oppositeends of the wire thereby adapting them for connection with the terminallugs 45 of the phasing wires by means of the bolts 46. As shown in FiG.l, the bridging wires are curved away from the individual antennaelements and present a convex configuration to the electromagneticsignal source and a concave configuration to the reector screen. Tosupport the bridging wires in such a position, a bridging spacer 53 isprovided with a mounting base 54 secured to the reflector screen therebysupporting the spacer in a position substantially normal to the plane ofthe screen. The outer end of the spacer terminates in a pair oflaterally opposed eyelets 55, thereby adapting it for connection to apair of terminal lugs 56 soldered at the midpoint of each of thebridging wires 56. The eyelets 55 and the lugs 56 are detachablyinterconnected by means of respective bolts 57. The individual leads ofa twin lead transmission line are also connected at these boltedconnections to transmit the signal to a suitable receiver and amplifier,not shown.

The dipoles constituting the antenna elements of each transverselyopposed pair 26 and vertically stacked set 27 may be formed readily andeconomically from a single blank of welded wire mesh similar to thatfrom which the screen 10 is cut. Such a blank is shown in FIG. 3 andindicated by the reference numeral 60. To insure proper alignment of thedipoles 20 in a plane normal to the direction of the signal to beintercepted by the antenna and substantially parallel to the plane ofthe reiiector screen 10, the blank 60 is cut from screen having a mesheither identical to that of the screen 10 or a mesh which is a multipleof the dimensions of that screen. In one commercial form of theinvention, the blank 60 is cut from a screen formed of individuallongitudinal and transverse wires of a gauge slightly larger incross-section than the individual wires 11 and 12 of the screen 10. TheWires of the blank 60 in this commercial form are approximatelytwelve-gauge wire. By referring to FIG. 3, it may be seen that eachvertically stacked set of dipoles 27 and its respective phasing wire 28are integrally joined by reason of the welded or solderedinterconnections of the individual wires of the screen blank 60, and thedipoles are integrally joined to their respective spacers 21. Also, eachspacer is integral with its mounting base 30 and the mounting base ofone pair of transversely opposed dipoles 2t) is interconnected to insureproper transverse alignment during assembly.

FIG. 4 shows such a pre-cut blank following the bending of the spacers21 at their proper locations adjacent to the respective mounting bases30 and the dipoles 20 so that the dipoles will be supported in acoplanar arrangement spaced from the reflector screen 10 at a distancesubstantially equal to the length of the individual spacers 21. Inaccordance with contemporary antenna theory, the length of these spacersshould be approximately one-fourth of the mean wave length in the rangefor which the dipoles 2t) have been dimensioned. By utilizing the blankshown in FIG. 3 and bending the individual anchor hooks 39 to theirrespective positions shown in FIG. 4, the dipoles Z0 are accuratelylocated and dependably positioned on the reflector screen 10.

jl FIG. 5 shows an enlarged View of one of the bridging spacers 53 andhaving the mounting base of the spacer connected to the retiector screen10 which is fragmentarily illustrated.

Operation The operation of the described embodiment of the subjectinvention is believed to be readily apparent and is briey summarized atthis point. Although it is not imperative that the individual antennaelements, in the form of the dipoles 20, and their interconnectingphasing lines 28 be cut from a blank of wire screen, as shown in FIG. 3,fabrication and assembly of the antenna of the present invention isfacilitated from such a practice and substantial economy of manufactureresults therefrom. As an alternative, the dipoles of each verticallystacked set 27 may be integrally joined to a phasing wire 28 of suitablelength as by welding or soldering. The respective spacers 21 are alsojoined by similar methods to provide an integrated structure wherein theantenna elements are maintained in their optimum relative positionsfollowing assembly and use of the antenna.

Following the fabrication of the antenna blank substantially in the formshown in FIG. 3, the spacers 21 are bent to right-angular relation totheir respective mounting bases 3i). Subsequently the blank 60 is placedon the antenna screen in a selected position and maintained in suchposition by bending the anchor hooks 39 to engage the longitudinal andtransverse wires 11 and 12 of the screen 10. In like manner, the phasingspacers 35 and the bridging spacer S3 are secured to the screen by theirrespective anchor hooks. By means of the bolts 46, the eyelets of thespacers 35 and 53 are then connected with the lugs 45 of the respectivephasing wires 28 and the terminal eyelets 55 of the bridging wires 56.The mast 15 is subsequently secured to the reector screen by the clamps16 and 17. The assembled antenna is then ready for mounting on asuitable structure, such as a chimney or roof, not shown. Thetransmission line 58 is connected to the terminal lugs 56 of thebridging wires 50 for reception of a signal from a source ofelectromagnetic radiation. For optimum signal reception, the plane ofthe reflector screen is disposed substantially normal to the directionof such signals.

To provide a minimum thickness for shipping purposes, the antenna of thepresent invention is readily folded to the position shown in FIG. 2 bydisconnecting the bolted connections between the eyelets 55 of thebriding spacer 53 and the terminal lugs 56 of the bridging wires 50. Topermit the bridging wires to assume a straightened oondition lying flatand adjacent to the screen 10, the eyelets at one end of the bridgingwires 50 are detached from their respective spacer 35. Accordingly, theantenna spacing elements 21 are folded .against the screen so that theantenna elements and the spacers are substantially flush against thescreen. Upon subsequent mounting of the antenna for use, these spacersare bent to an extended position shown in FIG. 1, the connectionsbetween the bridging terminal 56 and the eyelet at one end of thebridging wires 5) are re-assembled, and the antenna is quickly preparedfor operation.

An alternate form of bridiging wire is shown in FIG. 6 which adapts theantenna to be shipped in an assembled condition at la minimum shippingheight. As shown in FG. 6, bridging wires 50 curve away from the dipoles20 immediately adjacent thereto and are convexly curved -towarcl thereflector screen at the portions between a phasing wire and the bridgespacer. It should also be noted that bridging spacer 53 is ofsubstantially the same length as the spacers 21 and 35, therebyminimizing the shipping height of the assembled antenna.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a high gain directionalantenna which is economically fabricated and is shipped in either anassembled operative condition or in a substantially assembled foldedcondition. The antenna structure of the present invention affordssubstantial economy of manufacture, reduces shipping space and costs,facilitates assembly to an operative position and makes possible optimumsignal reception.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what isconceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it isrecognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of theinvention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed hereinbut is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace anyand all equivalent devices and apparatus.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. The method of making a high gain unidirectional antenna in the formof a plane-reflector array comprising selecting a first elongatedmetallic reflecting screen having longitudinal and transverse wiresarranged in an open mesh; means providing for supporting the screen in aplane substantially normal to the direction of electromagnetic energyintercepted thereby; selecting a second metallic screen having parallellongitudinal and parallel transverse members arranged to an open meshsubstantially identical to said tirst screen; cutting selectedlongitudinal and transverse members of the second screen to form aplurality of antenna elements from selected parallel members yof thesecond screen and having a plurality of iiexible spacers each being ofsubstantially uniform length and having an outer end portion connectedto a respective one of the anntenna elements and having an inner endportion foldably connected to the iirst screen for movement of theelements and the spacers between a retracted position substantiallyflush against the screen kand an operable position with the elementssupported in a coplanar arrangement spaced outwardly from the screen bythe spacers; and selecting spaced parallel members of said second screenintegral with and interconnecting the antenna elements in phasedrelationship.

2. The method of making a unidirectional antenna inV the form of aplane-reflector array comprising selecting a first elongated metallicreecting screen having longitudinal and transverse wires arranaged in anopen mesh,

the screen being adapted to be supported in a plane subl ments formed byparallel segments of said transverse members, each of said .antennaelements having a longitudinal member joined thereto at the `approximatemidpoint of the antenna element :to serve as a spacer; and cutting eachof said spacers at a substantially uniform length to provide an innerend portion for foldable connection to the first screen for movement ofthe antenna elements and the spacers between retractedpositionssubstantially flush against the 'first screen and operablepositions with the elements supported in a coplanar arrangement spacedoutwardly from the first screen by the spacers.

3. The method of making `a unidirectional antenna in the form of aplane-reeotor array comprising selecting a first elongated metallicreflecting screen having longitudinal and transverse wires arranged inan open mesh, the screen being .adapted to be supported Vin a planesubstantially normal to the direction of electromagnetic energy to beintercepted thereby; selecting a second metallic screen havinglongitudinal and transverse members arranged in an open meshsubstantially identical to that of said first screen wherein the membersare secured in yintersecting groups of respectively parallel members;

of substantially uniform length and having an inner end; Y

and cutting the transverse members respectively connectedto said-spacers at said inner end to provide foldable anchor hooks forconnection to the rst screen and permitting movement of the antennaelements and the spacers between retracted positions substantially liushagainst the screen and 'operable positions with the elements supportedin a coplanar arrangement spaced outwardly from the screen by thespacers.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS s/57 Bouchard343-7818 8/ 63 Bouchard 343--881 HERMAN KARL SAALBACH, Primary Examiner.ELI LIEBERMAN, Examiner.,

2. THE METHOD OF MAKING A UNIDIRECTIONAL ANTENNA IN THE FORM OF APLANE-REFLECTOR ARRAY COMPRISING SELECTING A FIRST ELONGATED METALLICREFLECTING SCREEN HAVING LONGITUDINAL AND TRANSVERSE WIRES ARRANGED INAN OPEN MESH, THE SCREEN BEING ADAPTED TO BE SUPPORTED IN A PLANESUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO THE DIRECTION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY TO BEINTERCEPTED THEREBY; SELECTING A SECOND METALLIC SCREEN HAVINGLONGITUDINAL AND TRANSVERSE MEMBERS ARRANGED IN AN OPEN MESHSUBSTANTIALLY IDENTICAL TO THAT OF SAID FIRST SCFEEN WHEREIN THE MEMBERSARE SECURED IN INTERSECTING GROUPS OF RESPECTIVELY PARALLEL MEMBERS;CUTTING SELECTED LONGITUDINAL AND TRANSVERSE MEMBERS FROM A PORTION OFSAID SECOND SCREEN TO FORM A PAIR OF TRANSVERSELY SPACED LATERALLYOPPOSED PHASING WIRES HAVING OPPOSITE ENDS INTEGRALLY JOINED TORESPECTIVE ANTENNA ELEMENTS FORMED BY PARALLEL SEGMENTS OF SAIDTRANSVERSE MEMBERS, EACH OF SAID ANTENNA ELEMENTS HAVING A LONGITUDINALMEMBER JOINED THERETO AT THE APPROXIMATE MIDPOINT OF THE ANTENNA ELEMENTTO SERVE AS A SPACER; AND CUTTING EACH OF SAID SPACERS AT ASUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM LENGTH TO PROVIDE AN INNER END PORTION FORFOLDABLE CONNECTION TO THE FIRST SCREEN FOR MOVEMENT OF THE ANTENNAELEMENTS AND THE SPACERS BETWEEN RETRACTED POSITIONS SUBSTANTIALLY FLUSHAGAINST THE FIRST SCREEN AND OPERABLE POSITIONS WITH THE ELEMENTSSUPPORTED IN A COPLANAR ARRANGEMENT SPACED OUTWARDLY FROM THE FIRSTSCREEN BY THE SPACERS.